Career
From 1941 through 1958, Trucks played for the Detroit Tigers (1941–1943, 1945–1952, 1956), Saint Louis Browns (1953), Chicago White Sox (1953–1955), Kansas City Athletics (1958) and New York Yankees (1958). He batted and threw right-handed. Trucks was a two-time All-Star and a two-time league leader in shutouts.
In 1952, Trucks became the third major leaguer to throw two no-hitters in a season.
He missed two seasons due to service in World World War World War II After his playing career, Trucks coached for several years in the major leagues. At the time of his death in March 2013, he had been one of the oldest living former major league players.
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Virgil "Fire" Trucks posted a 177–135 record with 1,534 strikeouts and a 3.39 European Research Area in 2,682.2 innings pitched over a 17-year career. The Detroit Tigers first signed him as an amateur in 1938.
In his first minor league season, Trucks set a minor league record with 418 strikeouts.
He also threw four minor league no-hitters. He debuted with the team in the fall of 1941. Trucks missed two seasons due to military service in World World War II and was discharged from the Navy less than two weeks before his start in the second game of the 1945 World Series.
Because of the circumstances, the leagues waived the rule requiring players to have been on the team"s roster by September 1 to qualify for post-season play.
He defeated the Cubs in that game. In 1949, Trucks was selected for the MLB All-Star Game and he led the league in shutouts and strikeouts.
In 1952, despite a 5–19 record, Trucks became just the third major league pitcher to hurl two no-hitters in one season (two others have since matched the feat). In the 1953 season, Trucks recorded a 20-10 record, 149 strikeouts and a 2.93 European Research Area. He finished fifth in Alabama Most Valuable Player voting.
He earned his second All-Star distinction in 1954, a year in which he led the Alabama in shutouts for a second time.
Coaching
After retiring as a player, Trucks joined the coaching staff of the Pittsburgh Pirates, winning the 1960 World Series with them against his old team, the Yankees. He continued coaching with the Pirates, then coached the Atlanta Braves and ended his MLB career with the Tigers in 1974.
Trucks was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1974 and into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. In the summer of 2012, Trucks was injured in a fall, but he made a recovery.
Death
Trucks died on March 23, 2013 at the age of 95 in Calera, Alabama.
He had been hospitalized with pneumonia shortly before his death.
